[knutspeed]

I had originally decided on a Stumpy Evo, but after having ordered one last summer I just got the message that there won't be any more 22s available here. Not even regular Stumpies, it seems.

So, rather than jumping to another brand and ending my long streak of Spesh from my LBS, I'm looking at the Enduro, which is available. From what I've read, it's a lot of bike. My local trails do not have long descents, but all very tech/gnar natural stuff, always up& down. Much pedalling. I ride them all on my Epic Evo, but I'd like to have something more burly from time to time. Also plan to travel to parks, the mountains, do a few more enduro races. I'm too old to do lots of jumps etc, but I like some warp speed DH'ing. Always more in a sort of fast survival mode rather than popping and goofing.

How would the Enduro run as a trail bike with a light wheels and more speedy tires? I already have a nice set that I could run, and keep the stock ones for the more mad rides. I used to have a '15 Enduro, and it wasn't half bad in "XC-mode". For proper XC, I'll run the Epic of course.

Looking at the geo, and being on XL frames (6.3''), curious if an S4 could make it a bit more manageable on the local trails rather than running the S5. Still quite a bit more roomy than my '16 Stumpy.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Blatant]

I doubt it. I’m in Phoenix, so we have legitimate terrain for the Enduro. I’m 6’2 and was on an S5; the S4 was too small in the seated position. Overall, it was way too much bike as a daily driver. Much less trail bike oriented than the older (2015-2018ish) versions.

I also have a 2022 Epic Evo. Really fun bike. Depending on terrain, I’d be more inclined to ride a slightly beefed EE as a daily (Pike, better tires, maybe long-shocked).

 

[andy f]

I love using my 2020 Enduro as a do everything trail bike around Santa Cruz. I also ride a 2021 Epic Evo in the same area. Both are lots of fun in different ways but I’m definitely making compromises on both for certain parts of my rides.

I also have a 2022 SJ that I keep in Bentonville. That bike is easily the best technical climber of the three and is really the right compromise for me if I had to keep just one but I do really enjoy riding all of them.

 

[eb1888]

Look into availability for an Orea Occam. Could be easier for you to get and the 140 version will handle your terrain choices. LT 150 also available.

 

[plummet]

I have a mate that rides everything on his enduro. I think your logic is sound and a light wheel set/tyre combo will work wonders. Then when you hit the park/enduro races you will have a weapon.

 

[Thoreau]

2 model years older, but same bike. i swapped my 2018 27.5 stumpy/carbon frame and wheels out for the enduro (another phoenix rider) and its my do all bike. i never even consider dusting off the stumpy, even if im going for an xc level ride.

immediately put some reynolds carbon/hydra wheels on and run pretty hefty tires (id rather run heavier tires than screw with inserts like cushcore again) and i still smile every ride. im hardly a pedal pro, but i dont even see any value in locking out the suspension on smooth easy rides. maybe im a glutton for punishment, but no regrets =)

sizing is kinda up in the air. im 5'10", so kinda right between s3 and s4. a friend recommended making the choice based on how i wanted to ride it. size down for playfulness, size up for psycho downhill stability. went for the s3 and in time, i learned to dance the bike around pretty well despite riding flats.

 

[Blatant]

Yeah, but you are in granny in a pretty flat area of PMP 😂

J/K. That’s the same year I had. Favorite bike color of all time.

 

[2021Mach6]

I had originally decided on a Stumpy Evo, but after having ordered one last summer I just got the message that there won't be any more 22s available here. Not even regular Stumpies, it seems.

So, rather than jumping to another brand and ending my long streak of Spesh from my LBS, I'm looking at the Enduro, which is available. From what I've read, it's a lot of bike. My local trails do not have long descents, but all very tech/gnar natural stuff, always up& down. Much pedalling. I ride them all on my Epic Evo, but I'd like to have something more burly from time to time. Also plan to travel to parks, the mountains, do a few more enduro races. I'm too old to do lots of jumps etc, but I like some warp speed DH'ing. Always more in a sort of fast survival mode rather than popping and goofing.

How would the Enduro run as a trail bike with a light wheels and more speedy tires? I already have a nice set that I could run, and keep the stock ones for the more mad rides. I used to have a '15 Enduro, and it wasn't half bad in "XC-mode". For proper XC, I'll run the Epic of course.

Looking at the geo, and being on XL frames (6.3''), curious if an S4 could make it a bit more manageable on the local trails rather than running the S5. Still quite a bit more roomy than my '16 Stumpy.

Thanks for any input.

I ride my enduro a lot on regular trails. Not very strong at pedaling, I ride mostly bike parks, but unless you're doing a lot of climbing, I don't think it's a problem at all. It'll probably open up some trails you hadn't considered once you realize how capable it is, plus if your doing bike parks.

Ideally you'll want 2 different wheelsets, or just change tires on park days.

 

[yzedf]

I use mine for everything from XC to bike park days. I’ve got dh tires and a second set of faster rolling 1,000 gram tires that I use for everything else. For technical climbing it’s no slower for me than my Ibis Ripmo AF was.

 

[avidtest]

I think the Enduro makes a pretty decent all-rounder. Sure, it's more muted on basic stuff, but very good overall. I'd say it's a hell of a good climber too (and mine has EXT coil). The big caveat is the weight, related to endurance / long rides. With water bottle and tools, my S4 is 37 lbs. So I just added a Transition Spur for the longer, less aggressive rides.

And what the heck; if you decide it's not quite for you, you could rock it for a few months, and probably resell it at only a small loss in this market.

That said, an S4 would be too small for you. I'm 5'11" and the S4 is about perfect.

 

[cogswell23]

I’d not get an Enduro as an all-rounder for intermediate terrain. It’s a niche bike.

 

[knutspeed]

Just to clear things up - I have a '21 Epic Evo for the longer rides, which handles pretty much everything, just have to be a bit careful on the extreme stuff. An Enduro/StEvo would replace my somewhat tired '16 Stumpy for the more rowdy rides - trips to parks, enduro races, alpine adventures etc.

Since the StEvo won't be available until perhaps summer '23 (Norway), I'm considering other options. I'd like to keep shopping at my LBS (Specialized), and it seems they could get me an Enduro. But - and it's a big one - there are a few used '21 Enduros available here, but the prices are just too high compared to new ones. And they seem hard to sell, probably because of eMTBs being pop at the moment, and AM/Enduro not being what it was. The sellers still think bikes are gold, and won't drop their prices.
So if I don't like the Enduro, I'm probably looking at a big loss of cash, maybe not selling at all, no matter if I buy new or slightly used.

I'm more or less down to three options: not buying another bike and stick with Downcountry, get some upgrades for the EE to make it a bit more burly, or going for something like the new Canyon Spectral which is quite similar to the StEvo and at a fair price.

Thanks for all the answers - my gut tells me the Enduro would be too much compared to what I'm after.

 

[FJ40runr]

Sounds like too much bike for your goals. I have an Intense Sniper that is built relatively burly (pike, 185mm dropper, etc…not too far off from a burly EE build) and was pretty set on getting a SJ Evo to do similar to what you’re looking for in a 2nd bike. My sniper is set up like it is because I like to ride the chunky stuff fast up and down (PHX & Sedona a lot). My goal with the SJ Evo was a bike that could sorta overlap while allowing to open it up on descents and race a few enduros a year.

Found one to demo and even it was too much bike for my use (arguably remedied with some build tweaks)…I can’t really imagine an enduro for anything but ripping down steep chunk after climbing gravel.

 

[Blatant]

I think you’re right on. The used market is definitely softening and there are a ton of Enduros on PB. I get you want to stick with Specialized for some reason, but there are a ton of great bikes in that space.

 

[Sidewalk]

Friend of mine got new Enduro and he only rides it at the bike park, just too much bike for anything else he said. I have a 2018 E29 coil (last generation) and love it as an all arounder, but I think the Evo is closer to my E29 than the current bike.

 

[yzedf]

I use my 2021 Enduro for everything from local XC loops to dh bike parks. I just run lighter tires when I pedal and have a spare old heavy set of wheels with a NX cassette and dh casing tires for those park days.

 

[Jayem]

I had originally decided on a Stumpy Evo, but after having ordered one last summer I just got the message that there won't be any more 22s available here. Not even regular Stumpies, it seems.

So, rather than jumping to another brand and ending my long streak of Spesh from my LBS, I'm looking at the Enduro, which is available. From what I've read, it's a lot of bike. My local trails do not have long descents, but all very tech/gnar natural stuff, always up& down. Much pedalling. I ride them all on my Epic Evo, but I'd like to have something more burly from time to time. Also plan to travel to parks, the mountains, do a few more enduro races. I'm too old to do lots of jumps etc, but I like some warp speed DH'ing. Always more in a sort of fast survival mode rather than popping and goofing.

How would the Enduro run as a trail bike with a light wheels and more speedy tires? I already have a nice set that I could run, and keep the stock ones for the more mad rides. I used to have a '15 Enduro, and it wasn't half bad in "XC-mode". For proper XC, I'll run the Epic of course.

Looking at the geo, and being on XL frames (6.3''), curious if an S4 could make it a bit more manageable on the local trails rather than running the S5. Still quite a bit more roomy than my '16 Stumpy.

Thanks for any input.

This really depends on your fitness and mindset. It can easily be hell or heaven. If you are a high cat 1 racer type, you are fast on any bike. You can ride a bigger heavier bike without a huge time penalty, but there IS still a penalty, so you have to also be ok with struggling and suffering more than other riders on the same terrain and sometimes, it's just dumb. I took my big enduro bike to Texas on my last trip last month, there's a couple small spots I can "use it", but no long descents. It would get old really fast if I lived there, because I wouldn't ride it on the completely flat smooth stuff that also exists there, I'd be constrained to just a few trails, fitness aspect be damned.

Also, traveling to parks, it's almost always better to rent and get insurance, than to "ride what you have". If you really build your bike for park, then maybe, but many people do not and they struggle down the runs on something that is less than optimal for the terrain.

 

[Suns_PSD]

There are plenty of great used frames or entire bikes that you could run in the meantime. Used SJ Evo's, Sentinels, etc...

Buying the incorrect bike isn't the right solution.

 

[Bikeworks]

I'm 6'1", and I am on a S4, located in the Northeast. I find that since I put lighter wheels on, the bike is a bit more manageable. As you know, it loves going down, and is a pretty good pedaler considering its intended purpose. The only issues I tend to have (and this is coming from someone with a newer skillset) is that in low-speed, downhill turns the bike tends to bog down a bit. Like the OP, I've been considering going the downcountry route to make up for overbiking with the Enduro, and will likely get a EE or base Epic. Hope this helps.

 

[knutspeed]

Thanks for the replies. My excellent LBS managed to dig up an S5 Sworks Stumpy Evo frameset for me in January, which I´ve built up and got more or less dialled for my local trail network. Stoked, and it compliments my Epic Evo perfectly. The StEvo is far more capable than what I'll ever need

Interestingly, I think it pedals better than the ´19 Stumpy "LT" I had. It's fantastic on tech climbs too, great traction. Haven't taken it to any big mountains yet (winter) but it certainly rips on the short local enduro runs, and feels lively and snappy, a lot more than I expected.